Little Italy isn't alone. In the past two weeks, city neighborhoods not used to crime have been hit with a series of similar attacks and robberies, with smartphones being the most stolen item, according to police.

"The suspects are moving in very, very quickly. They're committing the robbery and then fleeing the incident very, very rapidly. We're seeing this trend in several different neighborhoods around the city, geographically all diverse around the city. But the trend overlapping seems like the culprits are looking for and targeting people who are distracted, and they're also taking cellphones," Baltimore City police Deputy Commissioner John Skinner said Wednesday.

Also early Wednesday, in the 4000 block of Roland Avenue in Roland Park, police said robbery may have been the motive in an attack on a 36-year-old man, who was shot in the neck while trying to help a female friend out of a car. The man is expected to survive, and the woman wasn't injured, police said.

"We've had some incidents, and we're very concerned. We're very disturbed as a city by what we're seeing in these incidents, and we're taking every action possible to get in front of these cases moving forward and take those in custody responsible for these robberies," Baltimore City police Deputy Commissioner Dean Palmere said.

But in Little Italy, they're not relying on police. The community association said it plans to hire its own security firm to patrol the neighborhood known for world-class cuisine. Little Italy restaurant owner Gia Blatterman said her beloved neighborhood has a reputation to uphold.

"We are proud to say we are the safest community in Baltimore, and we don't want to lose that honor," she said. "We need to be sure that our customers know that we have their back. They can come here, walk here, eat here, play here, and we have them covered."

The community association said the private security should start in 10 days.

Police said patrols in Little Italy, Butcher's Hill and Roland Park will be increased.